Timed reading device



Dec. 26, 1950 s. E. TAYLOR TIMED READING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 14, 1949 INVENTOR. STAN F'O'ED E. TAYLOR ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1950 s. E. TAYLOR 2,

I TIMED READING DEVICE 7 Filed Nov. 14, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. STA N FOED E. TAYLOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIMED READING DEVICE Stanford E. Taylor, Levittown, N. Y.

Application November 14, 1949, Serial No. 127,178

Claims. 1

This invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for exhibiting reading material or symbols or groups of such symbols in progressive sequence in the direction of reading for increasing the ability of a person to read with greater speed and accuracy.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for training the reading habits of individuals which apparatus is relatively simple and economical in construction, yet efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type set forth which employs reading material or symbols on ordinary sheets of paper which material is, therefore, relatively simple and inexpensive to prepare and, therefore, gives greater freedom in the choice and preparation of such material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type set forth which has novel means for obscuring that part of the material not being read at the time, which means does not involve any moving parts and, therefore, is relatively simple, inexpensive and trouble free.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device having novel means for easily and quickly changing the speed of exhibition of the material to be read.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type set forth having improved means for actuating the material to be read to successively position the lines thereof in reading position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type set forth which employs material which can be prepared on a standard typewriter thus simplifying and reducing the cost of preparing such material.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the inven tion, as the preferred form has been given by way of illustration only.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof with the cover in open position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view thereof showing the position of the material to be read;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the wiring diagram of the device;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing the arrangement for obscuring the material not being read;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view showing the light polarizing members employed in the arrangement shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a front view of the device with the cover removed;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified rotary switch arrangement; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the contact mechanisms of the construction of Fig. 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout, the device comprises a casing I0 adapted to be supported at substantially the normal reading angle by a pivoted support member compris ng the legs II and connect ng portion I2 and pivotally connected to the casing ID at points I3 and I4 adjacent opposite sides of said casing.

The front I 5 and top I6 of the casing I0 are preferably formed integral and are connected to casing I!) by hinge Ida at the lower edge of the front of said casing ID to allow access to the interior of the casing for inserting material to be read and for service.

The plug I I is provided for connecting an electric cord thereto for supplying electric current to the device as hereinafter described.

The casing I0 may be provided with the rubber feet I8 if desired, to prevent movement of the device during use.

The front I5 of the casing is provided with slot I9 near the upper end thereof and on the inside of said front I5 and overlying said slot I9 are positioned the superimposed pieces of light polarizing material 20 and 2| which are retained in position by the brackets 22 and 23 adjacent their opposite ends.

The light polarizing members 20 and 2| may be formed of a light polarizing film or sheet material which is commercially well known and which film is composed of a plastic base member containing large quantities of minute crystals which have their axes oriented and this film may be positioned between glass strips if desired.

The axes of these light polarizing members 20 and 2| are substantially parallel with the respective arrows 23 and 24 which have been shown to illustrate the approximate relation of such axes which as shown have their axes approximately seventy degrees apart which p events the reading of the material to be read therethrough in the absence of illumination from behind as hereinafter described.

Within the casing I0 and positioned slightly above the slot I9 is the roll 25 which is generally similar to the usual typewriter roll and the material to be read is preferably typewritten on a sheet of paper 26 which is positioned between roll 25 and a small idler roller 21 which is carried by the cover I5.

The sheet 26 is inserted by opening cover I5 as shown in Fig. 2. As the instrument operates, the sheet 26 is fed out through a slot between cover It and the. back of casing ii) and the sheet drops behind the instrument and out of the observers sight.

The roll is operated by rotary solenoid El through ratchet relay 28.

Beneath the roll 25 and aligned with slot IE: are the lamps 29 of desired number and separated into groups of equal number so as to eliminate equal portions of the line of material to be read. In the example shown, I have employed nine such lamps, separated into three groups of three lamps each with the groups so wired that all of the lamps of each group are illuminated simultaneously and whereby each group, from left to right are lighted successively as a unit.

Within casing Ill is positioned the synchronous motor 30 adapted to rotate the shaft ill at ten R. P. M. 011 shaft 3! and rotatable therewith are a plurality of rotary contact members 4'3 to 41 inclusive adapted to receive current through shaft 3i. Each rotary contact member has differently spaced, insulated cover portions over the conducting contact members for making and breaking contact through any of the contact arms 32 to 39 inclusive, each connected to the selector switch 48, which is adapted to be adjusted by selector 49 which extends through the rear wall of casing Iii whereby any one of said contact members 46 to ll inclusive may be selected according to the speed of operation desired.

The contact arms 82 to 28 inclusive each have their free ends engaging one of the contact members 43 to 4? respectively and is adapted to receive current from the contact member in operation when the free end of the contact member engages the portion of the contact member not covered by insulating material and to be insulated from said contact member when said free end engages said insulating material. In this manner the speed at which the groups of lights will be progressively illuminated may be selectively adjusted thereby setting the speed of reading by the observer necessary to follow the reading material.

For example the contact member 4d may have three equal contact portions separated by three equally spaced insulated portions whereby each of the three groups of lights will be illuminated successively during each revolution of the contact member ill. The contact member 41 may have six equally spaced contact and insulating portions. The contact member 42 may have nine, the c ntact member :33 may have twelve, the con-- tact member 4 may have fifteen, the contact member 45 may have eighteen, the contact member 46 may have twenty-one and the contact member 471' may have twenty-four of such portions. These contact portions are merely shown by way of example as any practical desired numbers of contact portions may be employed.

The selector switch is electrically connected to a rotary switch 56 having four separated contacts 5|, 52, 53 and 54, each adapted to be energized once during each revolution of switch member which receives current from selector member 49. Each of the contacts 51, 52 and 53 is connected with its respective group of lights 28 and is adapted to cause illumination of said group while the contact is receiving current from switch member 55. Contact member M is connected with rotary solenoid 21 whereby after each illumina tion of all three sets of lights, switch 55 will energize said solenoid through contact 54 and the solenoid will rotate thereby causing rotation of ratchet relay 2t thereby bringing the next line of reading material into alignment with slot [9 after which the cycle is repeated until the entire sheet of material has been completed.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown a modified rotary switch construction adapted to replace rotary switch 50. In this construction there is provided a shaft 5t on which are secured four cams 5!, 52, 53 and 54. The selector switch has eight contacts enabling the operator to choose, by rotary manual action, the contact arm 40 to 4'! inclusive if he desires. This selection of the number of electrical pulses having been made, the pulses are fed through lead 55 to relay 56 adapted to actuate armature 5? to which is secured wire pawl 58 adapted to actuate ratchet wheel 59 on shaft 56! when the relay is energized, thus rotating shaft 5%.

As shaft it turns, the cams 55c, 52a, 53a and 54a turn with it and each of these cams has a plurality of cam portions Gil thereon adapted to raise one of the contact arms ii], 62, 63 or 65 according to the cam 5 i a to 5564 inclusive which is the cam portion fit which engages the contact arm. This raising of the contact arm causes contact to en age contact er to energize the respective set of lights and paper spacing mechanism.

An electrical lead is connected to each contact El, one of which is provided for each contact arm fi l.

Lead connects contact 54 with the paper spacing mechanism. Lead &9 connects contact Ella or contact to the first set of lights. Lead it connects contact or 52a with the second set of lights and lead l'i connects contact 53 or 53a with the third set of lights.

The cam portions are so positioned on the respective cams as to light each of the sets of lamps in proper sequence and to energize the paper spacing mechanism after the last set of lights has been illuminated after which. the cycle is repeated.

In operation, the cover it is opened and the material to be observed placed in operative position between the ro'ls 25 and 2? with a line in aligned position in slot it behind the light polarizing members where the reading material is normally invisible to the observer.

The current is then turned on causing each of the groups of lights 23 to be illuminated progressively across the sheet and each group of lights illuminates its respective portion of the material to be read thereby making that portion visible through the light polarizing members, whereby the observer can read progressively across the line. At the end or" each line the rotary solenoid will automatically be energized and effect movement of roll 225 thereby bringing the next line of reading material into reading position automatically and this cycle will be repated until the entire reading material has been read.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described, a casing, a viewing ap rture in the front wall of said casing adapted to allow the viewing of only one line of reading material therethrough at a time, obscuring means overlying said viewing aperture and adapted to normally obscure vision therethrough, said obscuring means comprising a plurality of superimposed light polarizing members with their axes so related as to normally prevent viewing therethrough except when illuminated from behind, a plurality of light sources within said casing and aligned with said aperture and adapted to progressively illuminate sections of said aperture and allow vision through said obscuring means, a roll within said casing and adapted to support a sheet of material within said casing with a line of said material aligned with said aperture and between said light sources and said obscuring means, automatic means for periodically rotating said roll to align a new line of material on said sheet with said aperture, and automatic means for illuminating said light sources progressively to allow viewing of that portion of material on said sheet aligned with said aperture and illuminated portion of said light source.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing, a viewing aperture in the front wall of said casing adapted to allow the viewing of only one line of reading material therethrough at a time, obscuring means overlying said viewing aperture and adapted to normally obscure vision therethrough, a plurality of light sources within said casing and aligned with said aperture and adapted to progressively illuminate sections of said aperture and allow vision through said obscuring means, a roll within said casing and adapted to support a sheet of material within said casing with a line of said material aligned with said aperture and between said light sources and said obscuring means, automatic means for periodically rotating said roll to align a new line of material on said sheet with said aperture and automatic means for illuminating said light sources progressively to allow viewing of that portion of material on said sheet aligned with said aperture and illuminated portion of said light source, said automatic means for illuminating said light sources comprising rotatable cam means, contacts adapted to engage said cam means and electromagnetic means for effecting rotation of said cam means.

3. In a device of the character described, a casing, a viewing aperture in the front wall of said casing adapted to allow the viewing of only one line of reading material therethrough at a time, obscuring means overlying said viewing aperture and adapted to normally obscure vision therethrough, a plurality of light sources within said casing and aligned with said aperture and adapted to progressively illuminate sections of said aperture and allow vision through said obscuring means, a roll within said casing and adapted to support a sheet of material within said casing with a line of said material aligned with said aperture and between said light sources and said obscuring means, a rotary solenoid for periodically rotating said roll to align a new line of material on said sheet with said aperture and automatic means for illuminating said light sources progressively to allow viewing of that portion of material on said sheet aligned with said aperture and illuminated portion of said light source.

4. In a device of the character described, a casing, a viewing aperture in the front wall of said casing adapted to allow the viewing of only one line of reading material therethrough at a time, obscuring means overlying said viewing aperture and adapted to normally obscure vision therethrough, said obscuring means comprising a plurality of superimposed light polarizing members with their axes so related as to normally prevent viewing therethrough except when illuminated from behind, a plurality of light sources within said casing and aligned with said aperture and adapted to progressively illuminate sections of said aperture and allow vision through said obscuring means, a roll within said casing and adapted to support'a sheet of material within said casing with a line of said material aligned with said aperture and between said light sources and said obscuring means, automatic means for periodically rotating said roll to a align a new line of material on said sheet with said aperture, and automatic means for illuminating said light sources progressively to allow viewing of that portion of material on said sheet aligned with said aperture and illuminated portion of said light source, said automatic means for illuminating said light sources comprising rotatable cam means, contacts adapted to engage said cam means and electromagnetic means for effecting rotation of said cam means. 5. In a device of the character described, a casing, a viewing aperture in the front wall of said casing adapted to allow the viewing of only one line of reading material therethrough at a time, obscuring means overlying said viewing aperture and adapted to normally obscure vision therethrough, said obscuring means comprising a plurality of superimposed light polarizing members with their axes so related as to normally prevent viewing therethrough except when i1luminated from behind, a plurality of light sources within said casing and aligned with said aperture and adapted to progressively illuminate sections of said aperture and allow vision through said obscuring means, a roll within said casing and adapted to support a sheet of material within said casing with a line of said material aligned with said aperture and between said light sources and said obscuring means, a rotary solenoid for periodically rotating said roll to align a new line of material on said sheet with said aperture, and automatic means for illuminating said light sources progressively to allow viewing of that portion of material on said sheet aligned with said aperture and illuminated portion of said light source, said automatic means for illuminating said light sources comprising rotatable cam means, contacts adapted to engage said cam means and electromagnetic means for effecting rotation of said cam means.

STANFORD E. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,193,735 Sutter Aug. 8, 1916 1,308,698 Craig July 1, 1919 1,683,263 Rockelshaus Sept. 4, 1928 1,869,522 Stader Aug. 2, 1932 2,162,766 Taylor June 20, 1939 2,266,798 Peck Dec. 23, 1941 2,337,621 Peevey Dec. 28, 1943 2,357,593 Leavell Sept. 5, 1944 2,402,109 Williams June 11, 1946 2,487,242 Holland Nov. 8, 1949 

